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They’re calling this a weak draft.  Fine.  It’s weak at the top, especially after Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, and Kemba Walker come off the board.  But just because there aren’t a lot of lottery teams that are going to see their franchise’s saved by the picks they make in the top fourteen doesn’t mean there aren’t some gems in this draft.  In fact, there actually are quite a few.

Eric Bledsoe, Jordan Crawford, and Landry Fields all proved this past year that there are talented impact players beyond the lottery, and while none of those guys will probably ever become an All-Star, the point is that teams found legitimate contributors deep in a draft.  Even in weak drafts, like this one is purported to be, there are diamonds in the rough.  Here’s a look at some of the guys who may prove to sparkle as pros, even if the hype isn’t all that high for them just yet:

#5 – Chandler Parsons, SF, Florida – It’s been proven time and again that there’s room for a guy like Parsons in the NBA.  Mike Miller and Kyle Korver have sort of paved the way for players like him, and he seems like the kind of player who could find himself a nice bench role with a competitive team.  He’ll be a second round pick, and by no means will he be a star, but he could have himself a long NBA career, and that’s all you can ask of a guy getting picked where he’s likely to be picked.

#4 – Greg Smith, C, Fresno State – At 6’9", Smith isn’t going to play center at the NBA level, but his giant hands (some of the biggest in Draft Combine history), likeable disposition, and array of post moves means he’s likely got a spot on some NBA team, at least as a camp invite.  He’s been preparing for this draft longer than almost anybody, and if drafted (not everyone is convinced he will be) he could be exactly the sort of freaky physical specimen that thrives on the next level.

#3 – Malcolm Lee, PG, UCLA – Lee might benefit from the recent success of UCLA point guards like Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison, and Jrue Holiday (to say nothing of Baron Davis, Jordan Farmar, and Arron Afflalo), and when one considers how well they’ve all performed on the NBA level, Lee seems like a reasonable gamble, too.  As a junior he’s got a little more experience than some of the younger point guards in the draft, and at 6’5" he’s more than tall enough to the combo guard thing on the NBA level.  He’s a good kid, too, and some team right on the first round/second round bubble is going to cash in on his talent and versatility.

#2 – Nolan Smith, PG, Duke – This is a very point-guard-heavy draft, and while some (Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker) have higher potential to be great, Smith is a proven commodity that can come in and contribute right away.  He’s probably destined for a career as a back-up point guard, but late in the first round that’s not a bad guy to pick up.  The reward might not be as high as other point guard prospects, but at least with Smith you know he won’t miss.  He’ll play in the NBA for a while.

#1 – Josh Selby, SG, Kansas – Most people we’ve talked to think Selby’s a few years away, and that combined with injury are what have him projected in the late first round.  He is one of the more naturally talented players in this draft, however, and if he ever does heal up and come into his own, he could prove to be a steal that late in the draft.  Few late picks have more potential for star power than Selby, but there’s a lot of "what if’s" that need to be answered before he gets there.

Honorable Mention:

{AUTHOR_BOX}Kyle Singler, SF, Duke – While a lot of players in this draft will get selected based on their potential as players, Singler’s value comes from what he’s already proven on the college level.  He’s a quiet, professional kid who just wants to work hard and play basketball.  He’s never going to jump out of a gym or score at will in the NBA, but players with the experience and work ethic of Singler have a good track record as pros.  If given the opportunity to play, he could prove to be a very valuable reserve.

Jereme Richmond, SF, Illinois – Despite a checkered past in Illinois high schools and at the U of I, Richmond is an undeniable talent that could pay dividends for some team willing to risk a second round pick on him.  The talent is there, but he’s got to get his head right.  If he ever does (and that’s a big if), he’ll be a very solid player somewhere down the road.

Jimmy Butler, F, Marquette – The thing about Butler is that he doesn’t raise eyebrows for any single talent or physical attribute, and in group workouts he doesn’t always stand out.  However, Butler does pretty much everything well, even if he doesn’t do anything great.  In other words, his weaknesses are limited, and all-around players that do a little bit of everything always have a home in the NBA.  Someone just needs to give the kid a chance to prove himself.

Will all of these guys succeed on the NBA level?  Of course we’d love for that to be the case, but it isn’t likely.  This is just a list of players who seem most poised to be sleepers in the 2011 draft.  A year from now, we’ll see how right (or wrong) I was, but some late pick will blossom.  It happens every year.  The only question is which guys it’ll actually be.